Multi-color pressure adjustable writing instrument



July 23, 1.963 B. NGELE, JR

MULTI-COLOR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 7, 1959 m@ ,m mw V 9 m 4 4 f f a y Nw l f W n B fMULTI-COLOR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed April 7, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oiitice rasata? Patented July 23,1963 3,098,467 MULTE-CLQR PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE f: ING INSTRUMENT BernhardNagele, Jr., Goethestr. 59,

Schwabisch Gmund, Germany Filed Apr. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 804,753 Claimspriority, application Germany Apr. 9, 1%58 8 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-14.5)

The present invention relates to a pressure adjustable writinginstrument for different color leads or inks and, more particularly, tosuch a writing instrument, for instance pressure adjustable ball pointwriting instrument, in which by applying pressure upon a push button orpressure spindle, the lead or pen cartridge is moved into its writingposition in which it is locked. When the lead or pen cartridge is to bereturned into its ineffective position, further pressure is applied tothe push button or pressure spindle so as to slightly further advancesaid lead or pen cartridge whereby it is unlocked and by means of aspring is returned to its rest position in the interior of the casing ofthe writing instrument.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved writinginstrument of the above mentioned general type.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a multicolor automaticwriting instrument which is relatively simple in construction andoperation and in which the desired respective lead will be quickly movedinto its Writing position and into its rest position by the exertion ofpressure upon a push button or the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following speciliication in connection with theIaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a writing instrument accordingto the invention with four different leads, one lead being shown in itswriting position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of FIG. l but on a larger scale than thelatter.

FiG. 3 is a cross section through the -arrangement of FIG. 2 taken alongthe line III-III thereof.

FIG. 4 represents a cross section of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2,said section being taken along the line IV-IV of FlG. 2.

FIG. 5 represents a section taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2.

The writing instrument according to the present invention ischaracterized primarily in that the leads are guided by a cylindricalinsert which is non-displaceably mounted in the casing or housing of thewriting instrument. In the said insert there is guided a rotatable feedspindle provided with two serially arranged cam members, namely afollower cam member and a return member, between which hook-shaped endsof resilient tongues of the lead carrier-s can be adjusted by rotationof the feed spindle for moving the respective lead carrier into writingposition. The respective lead carrier can be held in its writingposition by means of a spring-urged transverse bolt. When the spindle isadvanced further, the respective lead carrier is released and by meansof a return spring is returned to its rest position. The arrangementaccording to the invention furthermore comprises a locking ringnon-disp1aceably mounted in the guiding insert. The hook-shaped ends ofthe resilient tongues of the lead carriers when in rest position willengage said locking ring in such a way that when the feed spindle ismoved into its writing position, said resilient hooloshaped ends andtongues will -be retained in their rest position and only the respectiveadjusted lead guiding means will be moved `into Writing position. Inorder to assure this operation, the outer periphery of the guidinginsert is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots correspondingto the number of the lead guiding means, sald resilient tongues of thecarriers being inserted into said slots. The rear portion of the guidinginsert comprises further continuous slots through which extend thehook-shaped ends of said resilient tongues in such a way that theresilient tongues of the respective lead carrier -being moved will beguided in said slots during its advancing or feed movement. Near thefront end of the feed spindle there is provided a cylindrical transversebore in which is guided a transverse 'bolt acted upon by a lockingspring.

The locking ring is rotatably but axially non-displace ably connected tothe feed spindle. When advancing the spindle, the follower cam and thereturn cam engage slots in the guiding insert so that a rotation of thespindle during its movement into writing position will not be possible.

The locking bolt acted upon by a spring will, when occupying its restposition, serve as locking means for the retracted leads while allowinga selection thereof for the movement of a lead into its writingposition. The said locking bolt also serves to retain a lead in itsWriting position.

The construction of the lead advancing mechanism is such that it can bescrewed as an entirety into an inner thread of the instrument casing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the writing instrument showntherein comprises a casing l. Within the upper portion of casing l thereis arranged a guiding insert 21 which has `a plurality of external axialgrooves 20 corresponding to the number of colored lead carriers to bereceived by said writing instrument. The various color leads or ballpoint pen cartridges 17 are detachably mounted in carrier members i8which in their turn are provided with extensions or tongues ll9` ofresilient sheet metal. The radially inwardly bent hooks 22 `of theresilient extensions or tongues 19 extend over a rotatably journalledlocking ring Z7 which is axially non-adjustably mounted in the guidinginsert 2l. Ring 27 rests against an annular abutment 28 of the guidinginsert and has one portion thereof provided with an axial milledoutportion 29 through which a follower nose or cam 2.4 on a fee-d spindle 3may pass.

The feed spindle 3 has furthermore an yaxial guiding groove 30 engagedby a guiding pin 31 on the locking ring 27 in such Ia way that thespindle may be `axially displaced along the said guiding pin 3l, whilethe spindle and ring remain keyed together.

Spindle 3 is guided in clip screw 32 cl-osing the rear end of the casingl and is furthermore guided within the guid-v ing insert by means of anabutment nut 34. One side of spindle 3` is in addition to the followernose or cam 24 provided with a return cam 35 which is spaced fromfollower cam 24 in such a way that the bent-over hook 22 of one of thelead supports can extend between the two cams, when the feed spindle isrotated by means of a push button 23 and is eadjusted for a certainlead.

The feed spindle is near the front end thereof provided with atransverse bore 48 in which by means of a pressure spring 317, a locking`and adjusting bolt 36 with cone-shaped tipi portion is adjustabletransverse to the feeding direction of the spindle. The said spring 37is located in a cylindrical hollow chamber 38 of the locking bolt 36 andrests on one hand against the outer closure closed end of bolt 36 and onthe other hand rests against the bottom 39 of the transverse bore 48.

Between the lower end of the feed spindle and the closure member 40xedly connected to the guiding insert for instance by hanging there isarranged a return spring 14 which has both ends guided by extensions 41,42. 'The lead carrier or support can be disengaged from writing positionby means of an abutment ring or release sleeve as will be describedhereinafter. The rear marginal portion 43 of abutment ring il() isshaped conically so as to taper toward the longitudinal axis of saidabutment ring 16.

If it is ldesired to move `a lead carrier lor support from its restposition shown in FIG. 2 in-to its writing position, the hook-shaped endof the respective extension i9* is moved into the gap between thefollower cam 24J Iand the return cam 35 by rotation of push button 23which is provided with color markings 44. Thereupon the spindle is movedforwardly by pressing on push but-ton 23 until the transverse bolt 36,due to the locking spring 37 snaps `outwardly beneath abutment 45; Atthe same time, the cylindrical end 46 below the bolt 36 enters the upperend of the release sleeve 10'. The feed spindle and thus the carrierthat has been ladvanced will be held in this position.

When it is desired to return the carrier to its rest position, the feedspindle is advanced Vfurther by exerting further pressure upon the pushbutton 23. As a result thereof, the cylindrical end 46 of spindle 3further enters the release sleeve 10, and the locking bolt with itscone-shaped tip will be cammed inwardly by the cone-shaped marginalportion 43 oi release sleeve 10 against the thrust of spring 37 until itenters the straight portion -o-f the sleeve. r1`he release sleeve isaxially movable and will retract with the feed spindle on account of thefrictional engagement of the locking bolt with the sleeve upon releasingpush button 23. The release sleeve is about the same diameter as guidinginsert 20 yand when lthe feed spindle retracts, the locking bolt willpass from the release sleeve into the guiding insert without engagingabutment 45, whereby the feed spindle and t-he carrier connectedtherewith will move to retracted position.

The guiding insert 21 is provided with Ia thread 47 so that the entirefeeding mechanism can as an entirety be screwed into a correspondinghollow thread of the casing l. It is understood that lead and ball pencartridge have been used interchangeably because it is intended toinclude within the purview of the present invention not only pencilsusing plural leads but also pens having plural ink supply cartridges.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular oonstruction shown in the drawing butalso comprises any modilications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. In a writing instrument: a casing having Ia writing end, an axiallyslotted tubular insert in said casing, a rotatable feed spindle axial-lymovable in said insert from a retracted position downwardly toward thewriting end of the casing into advanced position, spring means urgingsaid spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality of carriers inthe casing respectively provided with tongues extending along saidinsert and ending in hook-shaped portions extending into the upper endsof the :sl-ots in 'the insert, said spindle being provided with.radially extending means having a recess therein located in the plane ofsaid hook-shaped portions when the spindle is retracted and movable byrotation of the spindle into predetermined rotated positions intoselective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portions, aspring urged locking member carried by said spindle, an abutment in theinsert engageable by said locking member for locking the spindle in saidadvanced position, means protruding from said casing and connected to:said spindle for moving said spindle into said advanced position and-for moving said spindle beyond said advanced position, means freelyreciprocably mounted in said casing sand frictionally engaging andretracting -said locking member` when the spindle is` advanced beyondits advanced position thereby to permit said spring means to return saidspindle to its retracted position, retainer ring means rotatably butaxially nondisplaceably mounted in the insert engaging beneath saidhook-shaped portions for retaining those carriers not engaged by saidrecess means, Iand abutment means at the end of said insert which isopposite the writing end of the casing engageable with the spindle forlimiting the movement of said spindle from its advanced position intoits retracted position, said locking member being so angularly relatedto radial-ly extending means as tot engage a slot of said insert whensaid spindle is in one of its said rotated positions.

2. A writing instrument according to claim 1, in which said retainerring means is non-rotatably but slidably coupled to said spindle and hasan axial opening that registers with -said recess means to permit axialmovement therethrough of said radially extending means and thehook-shaped portion of the carrier coupled to the spindle.

3. In a writing instrument: a casing having a Writing end, :an `axiallyslotted tubular insert in said casing, a rotatable feed spindle axiallymovable in said insert from a retracted position downwardly toward thewriting end of the casing into advanced position, and vice versa, springmeans urging said spindle toward its retracted position, a plurality ofcarriers in the casing between the Writing end thereof and said insertrespectively provided with tongues ending in hook-shaped portionsextending into the respective 'slots of said insert, said spindle beingprovided with radially extending means having 4a recess therein movableby rotation of the spindle into predetermined rotated positions intoengagement with anyone `only of said hookshaped portions, a spring urgedlocking member supported by said spindle and bearing on the wall of theinsert, an abutment in the insert engageable by said locking member forlocking the spindle in said advanced position, a pushbutton protrudingfrom said casing and connected to said spindle for moving said spindleinto said advanced position and also for moving beyond said advancedposition, means reciprocably mounted in said casing operable when thespindle is ladvanced beyond its advanced position for receiving the.spindle and locking member and frictionally engaging the locking memberand retracting the locking member from abutment engaging position tothereby permit said spring means to return said spindle to its retractedposition upon release of pressure from said pushbutton, retainer ringmeans rotatably but axially non-displaceably mounted in said casingengaging said hook-shaped portions for retaining those carriers notengaged by said recess means, and means for permitting rotation of saidspindle in its retracted position only, said locking member being soangularly related to radially extending means :as to engage a slot `ofsaid insert when said spindle is in :one of its said rotated positions.

4, In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lowerwriting end, an axially slotted insert xed in said casing, a rotatablefeed spindle axially movable in said insert `from an upper or retractedposition in the casing toward the writing end of the casing and into alower advanced position, spring means biasing said spindle toward itsretracted position, a plurality of carriers for lead or ink elements inthe casing between the writing end thereof and said insert and, eachprovided With a tongue extending along said insert and terminating in alaterallyextending hook-shaped portion extending into a respective slotof said insert, said carriers having retracted positions where theelements carried thereby are Withdrawn into the casing and havingadvanced positions where the elements carried thereby protrude from theWriting end of the casing, said spindle being provided with radiallyextending means forming a radial recess movable by rotation of thespindle into predetermined rotated positions when in retracted positioninto selective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portionsin said rest position of said carriers, an outwardly spring-urgedlooking member carried by said spindle, an abutment in said insertengageable by said locking member:v for locking the spindie in -saidadvanced position, said locking member bearing outwardly against theinner wall of said insert, and push button means protruding from theupper end of said casing connected to said spindle adapted to Ibeactuated by pressure to move the spindle into said advanced position andalso operable for rotating said spindle, said locking memiber beingoperable for releasably engaging one of the slots of said insert foreach said rotated position of said spindle.

5. In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lowerwriting end, an axially slotted tubular insert mounted in said casing,la rotatable feed spindle axially movable in said insert -from aretracted position downwardly toward said writing end of the casing intoan advanced position, spring means urging said spindle toward itsretracted position, a plurality of carriers for lleads or inkIcartridges in the casing between said insert and the writing end of thecasing provided with tongues extending along the insert land ending inco-planar hookshaped portions extending into the respective slots ofsaid insert, said spindle compri-sing means extending lradiallytherefrom provided with recess means, said recess means being coplanarwith said hook-shaped portions when the spindle is retracted land `beingmovable by rotation of the spindle into preselected positions intoselective engagement with any one only of said hook-shaped portions,said rotatable feed spindle being provided with la transverse Ibore,locking bolt means reciprocably mounted in said transverse bore, aspring urging said locking Ibolt means outwardly into engagement withthe wall of `the insert, said locking bolt having a conical end part andsaid end part releasably engaging one of the slots in said insert forleach said preselected position of said spindle, a counterbore in theinsert in the end toward the Writing end of the casing forming anabutment in the insert lfacing the Writing end of the casing .andengageable by said locking bolt in response to said feed spindlereaching its advanced position to lock said feed spindle and thereby therespective carrier engaged by -said spindle in 'advanced position, meansprotruding from said casing :and connected to said spindle for rotatingthe spindle and adapted to be actuated by pressure from the outside ofsaid casing to move said spindle into said advanced position and alsoselectively operable to Inove said spindle when in its advanced positionbeyond said advanced position, a sleeve freely reciprocalbly mounted insaid counterbore in spaced relation to said abutment operable inresponse to movement of the spindle beyond its advanced position kforengaging said locking bolt means and Iforcing it inwardly away from saidabutment and friction-ally engaging said locking bolt means, andretainer ring means rotatably -but 4axially nondispl-aceably mounted insaid casing positioned to engage the under sides of said hook-shapedportions that are not engaged -by said recess means for retaining thosecarriers not engaged lby said recess means in a retracted position insaid casing, said retainer ring means ybeing keyed to said spindle torotate therewith and having an axial slot to receive said meansextending radially from the spindle.

6. In a writing instrument: a casing having an upper end and a lowerwriting end, an axially slotted tubular insert in the casing, -aplurality of carriers for leads or ink cartridges in the casing belowthe insert having tongues extending along the insert and terminating inhook-shaped portions extending respectively into the slots of theinsert, a retainer ring rotatably supported in the upper end of theinsert engaging the undersides of the hook-shaped portions and having anaxial opening in one side to permit any one only of said hook-shapedporitons to pass axially therethrough, a rotatable spindle reciprocablein said insert having an upper or retracted position in the casingtoward the upper end of said casing and having a lower advanced positiontoward the writing end of said casing, said spindle being slidably keyedto said retainer ring, laterally extending means on the spindle havinglateral recess means therein in the plane of said hook-shaped portionswhen the spindle is retracted, said laterally extending means beingcircumferentially positioned so as to align with the opening in said4retainer ring and rotation of the spindle into preselected rotarypositions causing the recess means selectively to engage said`hook-shaped portions while the others are engaged by said retainerring, means -for moving said spindle downwardly in the casing togetherwith the carrier coupled thereto to advance the lead or ink cartridgepertaining to the carrier into writing position, a spring urging thespindle toward retracted position, a radial locking bolt carried by saidspindle spring urged outwardly thereon and operable for releasablylocking said spindle in its advanced position and said locking bolt insaid preselected positions of said spindle releasably engaging the slotsin said insert to form detent means for said spindle.

7. A writing instrument Iaccording to claim 6, in which the saidlaterally extending means on the spindle consists o vertically spacedcams defining therebetween said recess means and extending laterallyfrom the spindle into the said axial opening in the retainer ring whenthe spindleis retracted, and with the said recess means defined by thespace between the cams -being co-planar with the top of the ring.

8. A writing instrument according to claim 7, in which the said cams onthe spindle are disposed in the respective slot of the insert when thespindle is advanced -to prevent rotation of the spindle when in anyIadvanced position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,701,263 Henzel Feb. 5,1929 1,808,171 Larter June 2, 1931 2,162,249Dur-rler lune 13, 1939 2,557,054 Mansheim June l2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS541,378 Germany Jan. 11, 1932 253,971 Switzerland Apr. 15, 1948 985,667France Mar. 14, 19511 912,787 Germany .Tune 3, 1954 1,009,530 GermanyMay 29, 1957

1. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT: A CASING HAVING A WRITING END, AN AXIALLYSLOTTED TUBULAR INSERT IN SAID CASING, A ROTATABLE FEED SPINDLE AXIALLYMOVABLE IN SAID INSERT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THEWRITING END OF THE CASING INTO ADVANCED POSITION, SPRING MEANS URGINGSAID SPINDLE TOWARD ITS RETRACTED POSITION, A PLURALITY OF CARRIES INTHE CASING RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH TONGUES EXTENDING ALONG SAIDINSERT AND ENDING IN HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO THE UPPER ENDSOF THE SLOTS IN THE INSERT, SAID SPINDLE BEING PROVIDED WITH RADIALLYEXTENDING MEANS HAVING A RECESS THEREIN LOCATED IN THE PLANE OF SAIDHOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS WHEN THE SPINDLE IS RETRACTED AND MOVABLE BYROTATION OF THE SPINDLE INTO PREDETERMINED ROTATED POSITIONS INTOSELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH ANY ONE ONLY OF SAID HOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS, ASPRING URGED LOCKING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SPINDLE, AN ABUTMENT IN THEINSERT ENGAGEABLE BY SAID LOCKING MEMBER FOR LOCKING THE SPINDLE IN SAIDADVANCED POSITION, MEANS PROTRUDING FROM SAID CASING AND CONNECTED TOSAID SPINDLE FOR MOVING SAID SPINDLE INTO SAID ADVANCED POSITION AND FORMOVING SAID SPINDLE BEYOND SAID ADVANCED POSITION, MEANS FREELYRECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING ANDRETRACTING SAID LOCKING MEMBER WHEN THE SPINDLE IS ADVANCED BEYOND ITSADVANCED POSITION THEREBY TO PERMIT SAID SPRING MEANS TO RETURN SAIDPINDLE TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION, RETAINER RING MEANS ROTATABLY BUTAXIALLY NONDISPLACEABLY MOUNTED IN THE INSERT ENGAGING BENEATH SAIDHOOK-SHAPED PORTIONS FOR RETAINING THEOSE CARRIES NOT ENGAGED BY SAIDRECESS MEANS, AND ABUTMENT MEANS AT THE END